Wesley Sulzberger hoping for future Classics success with GreenEDGE

24-year-old Tasmanian to join new Australian team after three years at FDJ

The latest of the almost daily bulletins from the new GreenEdge team has announced that Wesley Sulzberger is the latest rider to have signed for the team. The 24-year-old from Tasmania has spent the last three years at the French FDJ team, where he has been steadily developing as a one-day rider under the tutelage of team manager Marc Madiot.

“I see myself as being able to play a role in the Ardennes classics, particularly riding alongside Simon Gerrans,” said Sulzberger. “Firstly I’ll be there to help Simon win one of those big races but also to learn from him as these are the races that suit my capabilities and where I want to get some big results in the future. Winning one of the big one-day races is the main goal.

“I’d love to win the Amstel Gold Race or a race like that. I’m still really young and I’m not going to be able to knock one of those off tomorrow but down the track that’s what I’m aiming for.”

After taking the silver medal in the World under-23 road race in 2007, behind Peter Velits – who now rides for HTC-Highroad – Sulzberger began riding as a stagiere with FDJ at the end of the following summer. His biggest result to date was the 2010 edition of the GP de Plumelec-Morbihan, a race that Gerrans has also won in the past, although he has also finished both the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France.

“I was pretty green when I joined FDJ and they gave me so many opportunities,” said Sulzberger. “They gave me the chance to ride Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de France. I’ve really benefited from that experience. Riding alongside the big guys and seeing how they prepare, what they do in the races - is the best way to learn.”

In theory, Sulzberger’s move should be a step up in status, after FDJ lost its ProTeam status at the end of 2010. GreenEdge is expected to successfully apply for a ProTeam license, since it is recruiting a number of highly ranked riders, especially as the demise of HTC-Highroad, and the merger of Leopard Trek and RadioShack, leave two empty spots that the International Cycling Union (UCI) will be anxious to fill.

“I came through the under-23 national team with Shayne Bannan and to be going back to Shayne in a pro team with GreenEdge is a dream come true,” Sulzberger added.

“It’s exciting to be part of the first Australian team at this level right from the very start.”